As the light increases with each new day, we begin our journey again towards spring; towards new growth and new beginnings. We will soon start to see the hidden landscape slowly emerging from underneath the snow. It won’t be long and buds will be forming on the trees and our environment will undergo its annual transformation from winter to spring.

As I look back over the last year, it seems to me there’s been a strong growth in the Saskatchewan wholistic health movement, especially in the last six months. It feels like there are more natural health activities happening–more practitioners, more therapies, more products! At WHOLifE, we’ve been getting an increase in the number of people contacting us for both our print journal and our website. It’s wonderful to know there are so many choices now for people, like us, who are taking responsibility for their health and well-being. I feel that we, in Saskatchewan, are truly blessed with a vibrant and dynamic natural health community, made up of many generous, kind, talented, and loving folks committed to supporting and helping each other. I am honoured to be part of it. Moreover, I’m convinced it will keep getting better and better. We are living in exciting times, so let’s enjoy it and celebrate!

On a more serious side, I believe that in order to keep ourselves and our environment healthy, clean, and safe, we need to be vigilant of what is going on with us and around us. We particularly need to pay attention to what is happening to our air and our land, and to our food supplies; to our Mother Earth. I believe it is clearer to more people now than at any other time in history that lots of changes are going on everywhere in our world, and many of them are not happening for the "good of all." Because of that , I believe we each need to take responsibility for our part in helping to re-balance the earth’s energies, if we are to have a safe and healthy planet in which to live.

We’ve all heard of Greenpeace and we know their work and dedication to preserving our planetary environment has been vital and active for many years. They are an example of people standing up for the right of every living thing on this earth to flourish naturally. It’s obvious, however, that not everyone thinks that way. As the world’s political manoeuvrings and imbalances of power continue to escalate, causing serious human and environmental destruction, it seems that many more people and organizations, like Greenpeace, are forming and taking greater steps to fight for preserving our natural environment.

One such group is our Saskatchewan organic farmers. On January 10th in Saskatoon, two certified organic farmers sought a class action law suit on behalf of all certified organic grain farmers in Saskatchewan against the companies of Monsanto and Aventis, seeking compensation for damages caused by their genetically engineered (GE) canola, and to get an injunction to prevent Monsanto from introducing GE wheat in Saskatchewan. All I can say is, "Way to go!" You can read more about this on pages 14 and 15, along with contact information and a website address.

When I hear of such groups as the organic farmers (or Greenpeace) forming and taking action to help preserve our natural inheritance–our land and our food supplies–it reminds me of the words spoken years ago by a wise elder named Chief Seattle: "This we know. The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected." The earth is our inheritance, we are all connected. Can we remember this, and help others do the same? I hope so.

In honouring the earth, I’d like to remind women about the second annual Wise Woman Celebration being held in Saskatoon, June 28-29. This year’s theme is Mother Earth, Nature, and Gaia. We know this year will be more fun than last, so come prepared to celebrate our connection with the Great Mother. For more information, check out the colour display ad on the back cover and watch the May/June’02 issue for more details.

I also want to advise our advertisers that we will be changing our advertising deadline dates. So for the May/June’02 issue it will be April 10 rather than April 12.

As we merry meet, please bless our Mother Earth! Blessed be!

Namaste!
(I honour the Spirit in you!)